1. Sharp, intelligent and attractive alternative rock from the Manchester area – currently recording new material so here is something to remind you pending the new stuff.

2. Another glorious tune from the pen of Mr Danny Cusick – we await their first live appearance with some anticipation.

3. They launch this new EP on Wednesday 9th May at the Kings Arms. Also the debut gig for new drummer Aaron. Check our their previous work “Last Fall” and “Idealistic Future”. Recorded by the ever popular Mr Archer at 6dB studios. Vidchip below done by that highly talented Kin person (more of which later)……listen to the words, almost Orwellian!

4/14. Catch them at The Castle on Oldham Street, Manchester (highly recommended intimate venue with excellent beer) on May 14th. Get their material from Bandcamp. Probably the leading instrumental experimental psych/drone band in the conurbation at the moment. This album was released in March. Hypnotic stuff.

5. I was brought up on metal at an early age (Zepp, The Sabs, Purple) so it I have always retained a love for the better ends of the genre. This lot describe themselves as post-hardcore/metalcore and they immediately struck me as refreshing and far better than some of the material that I get sent. Formed in 2011 they are still new to the scene and have just recorded this debut EP titled ‘Prepare For The Fight’. Set to be released mid 2012 it includes the tracks ‘Regrets’ (feat. Sam Graves of With One Last Breath) and this is the first single ‘Headstrong’ (now streaming on the music page). You can catch them live on 4th June – The Flying Horse, Rochdale, 28th June – The Star and Garter with POLAR and in between those dates they are playing with You Cried Wolf in York on the 23rd if you fancy a trip over to that fine city.

6. More metal – this time from the other end of the M62(W) via Southport , Wales and the States – again a refreshing sound with an absence of the usual cliches. They used to be called “Trollbangers” – interesting! Anyway, an impressive debut album which you can acquire here. More information on their website.

7. New single which was sent to me by the knowledgeable and reudite Mr Lynham of Superstar Destroyer. More Merseysiders, this time with a fascinating guitar driven sound – preorder the single here….released on May 21st. This lot blew me away with their Ghost Ride The Whip EP last October which is still available as a free download it says there that the CD is sold out but Nick Duke from Trojan Horse has a couple of copies if you ask him nicely.

8. Solo project from Positronik’s MzDee – glorious stuff here from Danielle really demonstrating what an excellent voice she possesses. You will be able to catch her and the rest of Positronik at the Salford Music Festival in October – and hopefully sooner than that.

9. The aforementioned Kin with the new iteration of the Kin Band from a Dutch Radio Session – glorious version of the tune from Dot Dot Dot/Flickering.

10. Another track from this new band from sunny Salford.

11. Formed in 2012 by guitarist/vocalist Jake Maxwell (drummer of the Drowning Sorrows and Former Pink Hearse guitarist). Look out for their live debut later in 2012 and you can get this debut release free from Bandcamp….not that we are into nepotism or anything at SCR but he just happens to be the son of Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets and Sinister Chuckles.

12. They will be on at the aforementioned gig with Dead Sea Apes at the Castle on May 14th – check out their available recordings on Bandcamp – a gloriously noisy lot…most enjoyable.

13. Manchester band – lots more info on their website – not sure what the capital N at the end of the word is about…..

15. The B-Side of the latest single recorded in Brighton at the end of last year.